The Western Australia (WA) state government has revealed a $25.5 million injection to boost the state’s responsiveness towards cyber threats by establishing a dedicated Cyber Security Operations Centre facility, as well as opening new recruitment options for cyber security specialists.
The sum draws from WA’s $500 million Digital Capability Fund dedicated to improving the state’s digital foothold, including modernising legacy systems and security.
ICT Minister Stephen Dawson said that the state had placed a great deal of importance on protecting residents in the digital sphere, with the new opportunity having the added benefit of providing new high-skilled jobs.
“Cyber threats continue to evolve, and so by investing in our world-class Cyber Security Operations Centre, Western Australians can be assured important Government services they access will continue to be safe and their information will remain secure.
“The expansion of cyber services across the Public Sector will generate local jobs and entry-level opportunities for Western Australians looking to get into the cyber security sector,” he said.
Australian students have recently been offered a leg up by the federal government after it announced fully paid traineeships would be available for those seeking to fast track their careers as cyber security specialists.
The state’s push towards upping digital defence coincides with the federal government, which recently unveiled a new world-class cyber and foreign intelligence facility.
The facility is set to bolster the nation’s defensive and offensive cyber warfare capabilities, with Defence Minister Peter Dutton issuing a clear warning to foreign threats that Australia would “strike back when necessary.”
Assistant Minister for Defence Andrew Hastie highlighted the fact that Australia was under increasing pressure from overseas powers.
In 2021, the Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC) witnessed a jump in cyber crime, receiving reports on average once every eight minutes.
